The Making of Centenarians: New Forms of Age Differentiation Through Autobiographies in the US

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This project investigates the cultural fabrication of a new category of aging by taking centenarians as a case in point. On the American book market, autobiographies by centenarians have been strongly increasing. The project conceives of these and other representations of the self as media of social differentiation and individual identity formation. By analyzing a sample of autobiographies by centenarians and other members of the group of the oldest-old, biographical narratives and their surrounding paratexts are explored for a time period from the 1960s to the present day. In particular, the project looks at discursive strategies through which old age is being redefined from a process of decay to a form of accomplishment. Moreover, the conditions for the production of these narratives in terms of an aging industry will be analyzed. The recruiting of protagonists as well as the role of co-authors and publishing houses will be taken into account. With regard to all these aspects, the project will investigate the social differentiation of age with regard to the relevance of other differences, such as gender, ethnicity, class and religion. Here, the intersections between multiples differences and their effects on the fabrication of centenarians will be of particular significance.